Joseph Tretler, vice president of international policy at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), visited Beijing, China, from September 21-24. Together with department staff, Mr. Tretler met with Administrator Tian Shihong (right) and other senior leadership at the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), as well as IGRS Alliance and the Beijing Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The trip emphasized U.S.-China cooperation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) [see related article] and also provided an opportunity to network with ANSI members and partner organizations based in China.

During the trip, ANSI engaged in extensive discussions with SAC on the rollout of standardization reform in China. On March 26, China’s State Council released a plan for deepening the reform of China’s standardization system [see related article]. ANSI has been closely monitoring the implementation of the six measures contained in the plan, including support for “social organization standards,” which are of particular interest to ANSI and its members.

On September 21, ANSI and SAC visited IGRS Alliance, a China-based industry consortia and standards developer focused on the ICT industry and 3C-convergence (convergence of computers, communication and content). IGRS was recently chosen as one of 39 pilot projects under the reform’s social organization standards initiative. During the meeting, ANSI learned about IGRS’s membership structure and standards development process. SAC is currently leading the development of guidance documents for social organization standards developers that would inform such policies and procedures.

ANSI also participated in an industry roundtable organized by the U.S. Commercial Service to exchange views on the reform with U.S. trade associations, standards developers, and companies, including several ANSI members. The discussion boosted ANSI’s understanding of the reform’s potential opportunities and challenges.

During a bilateral meeting between ANSI and SAC, ANSI encouraged transparency throughout the reform implementation process, including opportunities for public comment, and offered to share best practices from the ANSI and U.S. experience in support of this work. SAC posed questions to ANSI on its process for accrediting standards developers and approving American National Standards. Notably, Mr. Tretler presented an unofficial Chinese translation of the ANSI Essential Requirements to SAC as a demonstration of the Institute’s commitment to cooperation on the issue.

ANSI also organized an ANSI China Appreciation Reception for members and partner organizations as part of the September trip. Hosted by the ANSI Manufacturer Member Roundtable in China, the annual gathering has become an important annual tradition for ANSI’s China program. Mr. Tretler provided a keynote address highlighting recent accomplishments and thanking ANSI members and partners for their continued support. Each year, attendees of the reception tout it as an invaluable opportunity to network among the unique group of key players with the U.S-China standards space.

The Chinese standardization system is administered by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and most standardization activities are overseen by SAC. For more information, visit ANSI’s StandardsPortal, which provides details on standards, conformance, market access, and trade related questions for China and other countries, or contact china@ansi.org.